Newspaper vending machine



March 8, 1932. 8 J BB ET AL 1,848,628

NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR5 March 8, 1932. .14 A. HEBB ETAL NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ||lIll|1Il llllllllllll IIIE March 8, 1932. .14 A. HEBB ET AL NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE Filed June '7, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 rlllllllllll Patented Mar. 8, 1932 JOHN A. HERB, 0F HOIEWOOD, AND

PATENT OFFECE OMER H. MORRIS, OF UNIONTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE Application filed June .7,

Our invention consists of an improvement in vending machines, of the-coin controlled type particularly adapted for use in the vending of newspapers and the like. It has in view to providea self-contained machine having a weather-proof protecting cover, capable of being opened for filling or charging with a supply group of units and having operative mechanism whereby one of said units may be projected outwardly of the machine for grasping and removal.

The operative mechanism of the machine comprises a resilient supporting platform for maintaining the uppermost unit in operative relation to projecting mechanism, means for actuating the projecting mechanism for each operation, involving return. elements, protective devices avoiding the possibility of improperextraction of a unit, and various detail features of construction, as shall be more fully hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings showing one preferred embodimentof the invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the machine showing its exterior;

' Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine, partly broken away,.and with the cover removed innormal position; I

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2;

Fig. 1 is a .view similar to Fig. 2, showing the projecting or discharging mechanism advanced; a V

Fig. 5 is a partial longitudinal sectional view like Fig. 3, showing the shifting mechanism in advanced. position, as in Fig. 4;

6 is a transverse sectional view on the line VIVI of Fig. 2; v

7 is a detached perspective View showing the mounting of the shifting frame controlling the movement "of the discharging mechanism; I 7

Fig.8 a detail sectional viewshowing an adjustably mounted incision pin;

Fig. 9 is a side view in elevation of the shifting head locking mechanism.

The machine as a whole comprises a lower base portion A and a covering top B connected by a pair of hinges 2 at one side and by separate hasp elements 3, adapted to be locked 1929. Serial No. 369,030.

by a pad-lock, or other suitable locking and unlocking means.

The main body A is of box-like shape, generally rectangular in form, made of wood, metal, or other suitable material for complete protective enclosure of the interior. Casing A is provided atits lower front portion with a rectangular cavity 4: in which is mounted an inclined floor 5, resting upon a plurality of light resilient springs 6, whereby the inclined bottom 5 is capable of a considerable degree of vertical movement.

The floor or platform 5 is provided at its rear with an upwardly extending shelf or abutment 7 against which the rear edges of the units, as a plurality of folded newspapers 8, will hear when inserted, as in Fig. 3. As the platform 5 is supplied with a package of such units, more or less, it will be depressed by the weight thereof with sufficient slight upward pressure to maintain the uppermost unit in operative relation to the discharging fingers or arms 9.

Such arms, as shown, project forwardly from the lower side of a main cross head 10, to which. the arms 9 are pivoted at the rear, as by hinge connections 11. By such mounting, arms 9 are capable of a slight degree of liftingmovement for the purpose of lifting the uppermost unit away from the pack, and shifting it freely outward. as in Fig. 5.

Arms 9 are provided with downwardly and forwardly projecting needles or pins 12, the sharpened points of which extend into the paper of the unit suificiently far to engage its several leaves for outward propulsion of the entire series of leaves forming the unit, when the arms are advanced. Such lifting of the arms is effected automatically by means of a lever extension 13 of rod 14 pivoted in bearings 15 of the forwardly and backwardly movable head 10.

Stem 14 is provided with downwardly eX- tending lever arms 16 engaging loops or stirrups 17 of each main arm 9, so that when he middle lever extension 13 is depressed the arms 9 will be elevated with the unit, as in Fig. 5. For the purpose of effecting such movement a rearwardly extending bearing strip 18 projects into the path of lever 13,

depressing it and elevating the arms on forward movement and allowing the arms to again drop by gravlty when lever 13 1s shifted backwardly beyond the inner end of member 10. Such member as shown is slightly in+ clined at its rear under side to effect easy riding movement of the lever.

The box-like body A 's'provided with a forwardly extending delivery shelf 19 inclined at the general slope of, platform 5, while the cover B is also provided with coping extension 20, co-extensive with shaft 19, and provided-with a transverse clearance slot 21 for the unit. The shelf 19 is preferably provided with a middle recess-22 for clearance against the upper face of platform 19 in an inclined position, as in Fig. 3. The purpose of such door is to normally close the 1nter1or against entrance of a hoolnwire, or other implement, preventing improper extraction of a unit. At the same time the door is sufficiently light to beelevated, as-in Fig. 5, by the. advancing unit, and to close downwardly by gravity after retraction of the discharging arms 9. I It is designed that at each operation the pushing head 10 and its discharging arms will ride outwardly along trackways 26 beulate the'vending of aunit onlv upon inserween upper and lower outermost framing members 27 of the stationary frame 24, un-

der impulse of the pushing mechanism, and

will be retracted by springs 28 secured to the stationary frame at 29, and to the shifting carriage 10 at 30.

' t is designed ithat the machine shall be operatedby pushing mechanism capable of being released by a com or come, so as to regtion of such coin or coins. While various such devices maybe adapted to the mechanism, I have shown one form of coin controlled plunger which,'in practice, has shown good results and which is well adapted to effect the desired functions and operation. 7 The forward propulsion of the main frame or head 10 and its flexibly connected shifting arms 9 is'effected by means ofa forwardly and backwardly movable shifting head or block 31. V

Such block is mounted for longitudinal ,movement in a rear shelf extension 32 of main frame A having a rear closing ends?) and sides 34, between which head 31 rides. The head is provided with an operating handle 35 extending upwardly through a clearancev slot 36 of sufficient length to providefora complete forward stroke, by grasping handle 85. r r o The forward lower end 37 of shifting block 31 is adapted to ride forwardly and is provided with a shoulder 37a to abut against a shoulder 38 of main cross head 10, and to project the same forwardly to the desired extent to effect the desired forward movement of the paper unit.

For thepurpose of preventing operation of themachine until releasedthe deposit of a coin or coins, we have provided normal interfering pins or abutments 39,extending upwardly into the range of the front edge portion of the plunger.- Thus, as shown in Fig.

2, pins 39 'are'in line with the bearing terminals 40 forming the inner ends of clearance slot'sof the plunger end, as in Fig. 2. A

and lowering them downwardly out of range of the plunger, to permit operation,.a transversely movable shifting frame 41'is mounted-across the rear portion of the machine, im-

mediately underneath shifting block 31, and

having a roller 4 2 engaging a cam face 43 in the, block. Frame 41 rides upon the outer side portions 44 of a'main supporting plat-- form 45. A pair of slide bars 46 are mounted in platform between its outersupporh ing rails 44, and are adapted to be actuated by pins 47 of frame 41 through the interposition of a coin or coins, forming an interlocking connection between thepins and shift bars 46. a i i I I For such purpose bars 46 are provided, in thepresent case, with a pair of inwardly. extending blocks 48, each having a transverse hole 49 for registering clearance of pin i 47, andalso a vertical coin insertion slot 50;

Cover B is provided with corresponding coin slots 51registering with. slots 50, when the shifting bar is retracted, for placement of a coin, as in Fig. 6, Theunder side. of the slotted block 48 rests upon a flat upper surface 52 of stationary supporting platform 45, which is, however, provided with a clearance opening53 leading downwardly into a coin compartment 54 of the main casing A. Such compartment is provided with an opening and closing door 55 for access thereto, having a lock for security.

. Pins 39 extend upwardly and form the terminals of arms 56 which are pivotally mounted across theupper face of shelf 45, as at 57,

For the purpose ofreleasing the pins 39 elevating said arms and causing downward tilting movement of the-obstructing pin terminals 3-9. I a

I to b31846 so that the obstructing pins lower .for clearance, permitting complete forward movement of plunger 31.. Motion is transmitted from plunger 31 to shifting frame 41 by action of cam 43 on roller 42, as stated. The frame 41 is normally retracted by a tension spring 60, holding the roller 42 against the cam face .at all times.

For the purpose of effecting release of the pins 4.7 from binding contact against the intervening coin or coins, when they have been moved over the vertical drop clearance opening .53, plunger 31 is provided with a receding Icamface. 61, allowing for slight retraction of the frame 41 by spring 60, causing it to shift backward slightly and thus release the bearing against'the coin. The coin or coins will then fall by gravity into the collec-tion box '54:. i

In 8 I show a construction in which thepin 12a is adjust-ably mounted in the outer end of arm 9, as by means of a threaded stem 1%, forming a portion of an ordinary screw or other similar adjustable mounting. The screw may be turned forwardly or backwardly to lengthen or shorten the extending point, whereby to vary the piercing length thereof as desired. The purpose of such adjustment is to adapt the machine to operation with units of varying thickness, as between the usual daily newspaper and the thicker Sunday edition. A protecting coping 62 may be laid over the adjusting end of the pin for avoidance of interference in withdrawing the pushing arms.

The construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood and appreciated from the foregoing description. The platform 5 being loaded with a pile of folded newspapers, with the free edges in the rear bearing against the retaining wall 7, the uppermost unit is located in the path of movement of the several pins 12. Upon depositing a coin or coins in the slot or slots, dependent on the price of the newspaper, the plunger 31 is advanced, the coins providing an intervening abutment and transmitting shifting movement of pins 47 to bars 46 which gradually elevate the arms 58 with resulting lowering of pins 39 out of the path of the plunger.

The plunger then is free to advance against the rear end of cross head 10, the first movement of which forces the pins downwardly and forwardly, taking a firm hold through the layers of the uppermost paper unit. Continued outward movement shifts such unit outwardly, lifting gate 23 and also elevating the unit proportionally by action of lever 13,

lifting it away from the next lower unit and thrusting its edge outwardly through opening 21 at the limit of movement. In the meantime, due to action of cam face 61, the pressure against the coin thus having been released, the coin falls freely down into receptacle .54.

Thereupon plunger 31 may be released whereupon springs 28 effect backward movement of the pushing mechanism, bringing the pins 12 into proper position for the next operation against the uppermost unit in the Same manner. The dropping of the coins from slots 5.0 of course leaves them open so that the operation cannot be repeated with out depositing an additional coin or coins.

The platform v5 being located at an inclination'antomat-ically brings each of the several units of the pile upwardly into operative position so that the entire charge of units may be discharged one by one by merely repeating the operation as described.

In order to prevent repeated strokes of the shifting head 31 after having been released, said head is provided underneath at one side with a laterally extending ratchet 62. The cover 36a of rear shelf extension 32 carries a shifting rod 63, formed with end slots .67 to permit a lateral movement on screws 68. A depending pawl 64 is hinged to the under side of cover 36a as shown, normally retained out of engagement with the ratchet 62 by means of a projecting pin 69. Rod 63 has depending pins 65 and 65a adapted to :be engaged by a screw or pin 66 projecting from the side of head 31.

Upon moving handle 35 and head v31 with its ratchet 6 to the dotted position of Fig. '9, the pin 66 will engage pin .65., moving the rod 63 with itspin .69, "permitting the pawl .64 to fall. When head 31 is retracted, the :pawl engages the -ratchet, preventing a second stroke of the head. -As the head returns, the 66 moves the rod 631:0 its original position by pin 65a, elevating pawl 64 from the ratchet.

The entire machine is comparatively simple in construction, continuously eflicient in operation, and may be proportioned to suit the dimensions of the units, both as to length, width and depth, the latter dimension varying with the desired capacity or number of units.

It will be understood that the machine may be variously changed or modified in detail construction by the skilled mechanic to adapt it to use with various size units, or otherwise changed in detail construction or otherwise, but that all such changes are to be under stood as within the scope of the following claims.

What we claim is:

1. A newspaper vending machine provided with a case having a storage cavity and an outlet slot, an inclined supporting platform 

